Taiwan announces extended visa-free treatment for U.K. visitors

On 10 March 2009, Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced an extention of visa-free stays for UK passport holders from the current 30 days to 90 days. The initial 90-day stay can then be extended for a further 90 days at MOFA offices throughout Taiwan.  Notice on extension of stay.

As the BTCO has no diplomatic status, we can only provide a restricted consular service through the British Assistance and Services Section (BASS). We can make a true certified copy of an original document, but we cannot

• Provide notarial acts 
• Attest or verify documents and/or signatures 
• Administer oaths 
• Produce certificates of no impediment for marriage.

If you require these services, you should contact a lawyer or a notary public.

If you are a Taiwanese citizen and wish to have your UK degree certificate authenticated, you should consult the Bureau of Consular Affairs for assistance.

We will do everything we can to help British people in difficulty abroad. The following give advice on what help you can expect from the BTCO.

We can…

• Contact relatives and friends and ask them to help you with money or tickets. 
• Tell you how to transfer money. 
• In an emergency, cash sterling cheques worth up to £100 if supported by a valid banker's card. 
• As a last resort, in exceptional circumstances, and as long as you meet certain strict rules, give you a loan to get you back to the UK, but only if there is no-one else who can help you. 
• Help you get in touch with local lawyers and doctors. 
• Arrange for next of kin to be told of an accident or a death and advise on procedures. 
• Visit you if you have been arrested or put in prison, and arrange for messages to be sent to relatives and friends. 
• Put you in touch with organisations who help trace missing persons. 
• Speak to the local authorities on your behalf.

But we cannot…

• Intervene in court cases.
• Get you out of prison. 
• Give legal advice or start court proceedings for you. 
• Get you better treatment in hospital or prison than is given to local nationals. 
• Investigate a crime. 
• Pay your hotel, legal, medical or any other bills.
• Pay your travel costs, except in special circumstances. 
• Do work normally done by travel agents, airlines, banks or motoring organisations. 
• Get you somewhere to live, a job or work permit.
• Demand you be treated as British if you are a dual national in the country of your second nationality (Read more on Dual Nationality)